Whole New Thing tops at Commonwealth

The fifthCommonwealth Film Festival in Manchester presented Whole New Thing with its top honours forthe audience award for best feature. Directed by AmnonBuchbinder, this film is a coming of age story aboutan exceptional teenage boy from Nova Scotia. Buchbinder andlead actor Aaron Webber were present at the ceremony to collect the award.

The special BritishFederation of Film Societies jury award for best fiction feature went to BernardEmond's TheNovena. The Canada-set film weaves the stories of two strangers sho meet by chance.

The Kodakaudience award for best documentary went to Kim Longinotto'sSisters in Law, about women seekingjustice in Cameroon.

The BBC Manchester audience award for best shortfilm made in the North West (along with a £1,000 prize) went to NigelMoore and Dave Hartil's Jog, about a young man coping after a violent street attack.

Director Louisa Kavuna's documentary RapeFor Who I Am, about lesbian women in South Africa, took the LoveFilm.com audience award forbest short.

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